Girona is set to clash with Espanyol at the Estadi Montilivi on Friday, September 26, in what promises to be an engaging encounter as Girona seeks to secure their first win of the season. Positioned at 0-1-4, Girona has faced challenges, allowing a total of 15 goals for a concerning goal differential of -13. They have struggled at both ends, having managed to net only 2 goals across 5 matches and with their expected goals being starkly low at 3.8. Their defensive woes are also evident with 28 shots on target faced, three red cards, and 10 yellow card warnings, leaving them in a vulnerable position.
Paulo Gazzaniga will be guarding the posts for Girona, bringing with him substantial experience with 449 career saves and a save percentage of 67.5%. Despite impressive statistics, his challenges are reflected in the lack of clean sheets this season and a current save rate of 46.4%.
In contrast, Espanyol has been in relatively better form, marked as third in Big 5 soccer rankings with 10 points. Espanyol exhibits a stronger defensive front with a save percentage of 75.9% and one clean sheet to their name. Their forward momentum is evident with 8 goals and 5 assists thus far, giving them an upper hand with a goal difference of 1.
Marko Dmitrovic will uphold Espanyol’s defense, holding a strong record of 509 career saves and a clean sheet rate of 28.0%. His robust presence in goal along with his experience bodes well for Espanyol’s chances in this matchup.
On the field for Girona, Cristhian Stuani stands as a crucial figure with 220 career goals and an impressive record of 0.57 goals per 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Espanyol relies on the skills of Kike, who offers considerable experience and scoring ability with 101 career goals. His influence in the match could be pivotal given his average of 0.34 goals per 90 minutes.
The odds slightly favor Espanyol due to their stable performances and strategic consistency on the field. While Girona grapples with defensive issues and a need for offensive breakthroughs, Espanyol’s balanced attacking and defending strategies might guide them to another victory. The match thus lays ground for an intense faceoff, as Girona seeks redemption while Espanyol aims to continue their commendable run.